Nestin-Mediated Cytoskeleton Remodeling in Endothelial Cells: a Novel Mechanistic Insight into VEGF-Induced Cell Migration in Angiogenesis.

Nestin-Mediated Cytoskeleton Remodeling in Endothelial Cells: a Novel Mechanistic Insight into VEGF-Induced Cell Migration in Angiogenesis.
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2014 Dec 10;:ajpcell.00121.2014
Authors: Liang ZW, Wang Z, Chen H, Li C, Zhou T, Yang Z, Yang X, Yang Y, Gao G, Cai W
Abstract
Although nestin is highly expressed in poorly differentiated or newly formed proliferating ECs (endothelial cells), the role of this protein in angiogenesis remains unknown. In addition, the cytoskeleton and associated cytoskeleton-binding proteins mediate the migration of vascular endothelial cells. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine whether VEGF regulates the cytoskeleton or other associated proteins to promote the migration of VECs.Nestin co-expression with CD31 during angiogenesis in alkali-burned rats corneas was examined through immunohistochemical analysis. Western blot analyses revealed that the exposure of HUVECs to hypoxia promoted nestin expression in vitro. In addition, nestin silencing using siRNA significantly inhibited many of the process associated with VEGF-induced angiogenesis, including tube formation and the migration and proliferation of HUVECs. Moreover, FITC-phalloidin labeling revealed that F-actin filaments were well organized into microfilaments in VEGF-treated cells, suggesting network rearrangement through F-actin compared with the uniform and loose actin filament network observed in siRNA-nestin cell...

Source: American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology - December 10, 2014 Category: Cytology Authors: Liang ZW, Wang Z, Chen H, Li C, Zhou T, Yang Z, Yang X, Yang Y, Gao G, Cai W Tags: Am J Physiol Cell Physiol Source Type: research